Improvement in coal-gas-purifying apparatus



.1.119. AVERELL. AYCOAL-GAS PURIEYING APPARATUS. No; 194,636.

Patented Aug. 28,1877.

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UNITED STATES PATENT TErcE.

JOHN D. AVERELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN COAL-GAS-PURIFVING APPARATUS.

Specification'forming part of Letters Patent No. 194,636, dated August28, 1877; application filed January 25,1877.

To all whom it may concer/a:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. AvEEELL, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCoal-Gas-Purifyin g Apparatus, which improvements are fully set forth inthe following specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

The class of gas generating and purifying apparatuses herein referredtorelates to the combined generator and purier of gas with a stove orheater for heating buildings and other localities.

. I am aware that an apparatus similar to that hereinafter described isold for generating gas; and this invention relates to the apparatus anddevices used for purifying gas.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 represen ts a longitudinal verticalsection of the apparatus with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectionof the same, taken through the chimney of the same. Fig. 3 isa face viewof the cover or cap of the retort. r

A represents the grate of the lire-chamber, B of the stove or heater. Crepresents the heating-chamber, and D the smoke-stack or chimney of thesame. Under the grate is arranged the ash-pit E. Said ash-pit andfirechamber are furnished on the front side F of the stove with properdoors G. H is the top, I I the sides, and J the back, of the stove. Krepresents a sheet-metal casing or air-jacket, which covers the back,sides, and top of the stove, with an air-space between them toaccumulate the heated air, which enters at the bottom of said jacketthrough the openings L L, and passes toward the top H between the backand sides of the stove andthe casing K, and thereby becomes heated. Fromthe top of the casing said air is conducted, through the pipes M M, intothe departments of the building to be heated. The lire-chamber B islined with fire bricks or other material suitable for the purpose.

In the heating-chamber over the tire is employed a horizontalgas-retort, N, arranged centrally between the sides of the fire-charnberor heater. Said retort is of oval form, with its largest diameter arranged horizontally, to have its top and bottom present a large surface forheating and to spread the coal in the retort more dat. Between theretort-bottom and the grate and lire is arranged a' soap-stone plate, O,in horizontal position. Said plate is made to slide in or out from saidchamber through the front of the heater. Itis to be used whenever thegenerating of gas is desired to be retarded or stopped, or in case theiire becomes unduly intense by a draft too strong, and in order toprotect the bottom `of the retort. For rapid generation of gas the saidplate may be Withdrawn entirely.

Said retort may be made of equal dimen-` sion its whole length; but Iprefer to shape its forward end with a round neck, which has a flangefor a joint, with the cap P to close its mouth, after being chargedair-tight, either bythe use of proper packing, of cement or clay, orhaving said joint ground and fitted.

- Said mouth ot' the retort may have lugs, as shown, to apply across-bar in front of the cap for properly locking the cap to the mouth.

The rear end of the retort terminates with a short tube, Q, whichextends through the back ofthe heater and the casing. By this means saidrear end is properly supported, and over the end of the tube Q isapplied a properly-tight cap.

Ou each side of the heater, along the sides of the retort nearest, issecured or cast a partition-plate, R, so that by them, with the bottomof the retort, the lire-chamber and heating-chamber are divided on theirgreater part; but near the rear of the retort said parti,- tion-platesterminate and allow a communication between said chambers.

The retort terminates on the rear a short distance from the back of theheater, so that the re can pass up between the back of the heater andretort, the chimney D being arranged on the forward part of the heater.By

\ this means the draft, after passing under the bottom and over therear, passes over the top of the retort to the chimney, thereby applyingthe most intense heat to the coal charged in the retort, and the lessintense heat to super-heat the vapors, which application is mosteconomical and effectual for generation of gas.

T represents the discharge-pipe of the retort, through which the vaporspass into the tar-condenser or purifying-receiver S, arranged abovethe/heater or stove, and, after passingf through vsaid receiver', theyare conducted 0E through the pipe V into a secondary receiver, W,arranged at a lower position, and from said secondary receiver saidvapors may eitherpass directly into the gas-holder or may still passthrough succeeding purifying receivers before entering the holder.

The retort is provided with a neck on the top as well as on the bottom,to attach the pipe T, in order that, after the bottom side of the samebecomes clinkered and burned, said bottom side may be turned to the topand said pipe attached to it in the reversed position. The neck on thebottoni is always closed, with a plug fitted thereto.

The receiver S is provided with several tiers of small invertedsheet-metal troughs,x, which are arranged and suspended in the samedirection horizontally above one another, butin an order to breakjoints, so that the vapors are received up into them, but are obliged toturn down out of them to pass their junctions. From there they are againdirected to pass up into the hollow portions of the succeeding tier oftroughs w, and so on from tier to tier, whereby a most effectivefriction is offered to said vapors, causing a rapid condensation of thetar and the purifying ofthe gas.

The condensed tar passes down to the pipe T, and is 'by it conductedback into the retort, Where, by the intense heat, the said tar is againvaporized, so that by this means a large amount ot' gas is gained fromthe tar.

The secondary receiver W is furnished also with the similar sheet-metaltroughs a, Which may be in this receiver arranged vertically; but Iprefer to have them also horizontal, to cause greater friction ofthevapors. Said receiver has a vertical partition, Z, from the top towithin a short distance of the bottom, to cause the vapors to pass thelower row of troughs.

The receivers S may be furnished with a safety-valve, to provide meansof detecting any clogging in the receivers or connected pipes, and vtheexhaust of said safety-valve may be connected with the chimney to allowthe escape of the vapors, and thereby avoid explosion or fire. y

WhatI claim as my invention is- The combination of the inverted troughsa' in tiers arranged Within the condensers Sand W, substantially-as andfor the purpose of purifying gas, as herein set forth.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand this 20th day of January,1877.

JOHN D. AVERELL.

In presence of- R. BOEKLEN, OHAs. ABEL.

